Kent State Day of Service April 12
Plant trees on the Kent campus. Create literacy kits for kids. Lend a helping hand to the homeless. Or get involved with the I PROMISE School created by the LeBron James Family Foundation.
Kent State University encourages faculty and staff to volunteer during the upcoming second annual Kent State Day of Service on Friday, April 12.
Volunteers can work from two to eight hours and earn valuable Wellness Your Way points. Please work with your supervisor to schedule vacation time when volunteering during regular work hours. For more information, call (330) 672-7876, or email community@kent.edu.
Alumni Day of Service April 27
Join fellow Golden Flashes around the world to make an impact in your community on Saturday, April 27. You can do everything from helping to build homes to serving thousands of meals to those in need. KSU alumni share their Kent State pride, time and talents to make a difference in local communities.
Register for a service site near you. Your volunteer hours will count toward the collective impact of Golden Flashes giving back across the globe. Please work with your supervisor to schedule vacation time when volunteering during regular work hours. Service sites are filling up fast, so register today!
Performance Evaluations On the Horizon
Performance evaluations for classified and unclassified employees will take place from April 15 through June 15. Employee The single sign on in FlashLine will be available this year.
Managers and supervisors of classified and unclassified employees will receive an email prior to April 15 with detailed instructions. As a reminder, supervisors and employees have access to the performance log throughout the year to record personal accomplishments, training and discussions.
Webinars will be available for supervisors and managers. The first webinar, "Navigating the Online Evaluation Process," will familiarize evaluators with the online assessment tool. The second webinar, "Assessing and Improving the Performance of Others," is a webinar for new managers and supervisors regarding how to evaluate employees. Dates to register for the webinars will be available soon.
If your department is interested in having a Human Resources representative present an overview of the evaluation process in person, please call Karen Watson at 330-672-4636.
Call for Nominations: 2019 Celebration of Service and Engagement
Do you know a student, faculty member or organization that has given their time and talents to impacting the community through engagement and scholarship? Perhaps you know of a service-learning course or co-curricular initiative that has engaged community partners and students in a mutually beneficial partnership.
Consider nominating them for an award at the annual Celebration of Service and Engagement event, hosted by Community Engaged Learning at Kent State. This year's award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 24 from 6-8 p.m. at the KSU Hotel and Conference Center.
Visit our web page to nominate, learn more or RSVP by April 19.
Mark Your Calendar: Student Employee Appreciation Week: April 8-12
The week of April 8 - 12 is National Student Employment Appreciation Week. To celebrate, Career Exploration and Development will provide special edition t-shirts for KSU student workers. Our goal is to deliver directly to you as many t-shirts as possible.
Complete this form with the desired t-shirt sizes. Offices with fewer than 10 students should arrange to pick up the shirts at 261 Schwartz Center. Offices with more than 10 students will have their shirts delivered. In addition, each student employee will receive a card for specific discounts or giveaways from various off-campus businesses and on-campus departments. These will be distributed to supervisors along with the shirts, or the cards will arrive separately through on-campus mail.
While student employees will be celebrated university-wide, supervisors are also encouraged to show appreciation to those working within their departments. Appreciation can include giving students a simple thank-you card, surprising students with a homemade treat, decorating with a “thank you” banner in the office, etc. Contact campusworks@kent.edu with any questions.
Rec and Play Day Returns to Launch Us Into the On the Move Challenge 2019!
Get re-energized at our Spring Rec and Play Day on Fri., April 5, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Come when you can for as long as you can!
During Rec & Play Day, you'll have an opportunity to pick and choose from a variety of fun activities, such as archery, badminton, Giant Jenga, spinning classes, rock climbing, Bullzibucket (next generation corn hole), and more!
In addition, we'll have light refreshments and opportunities to win prizes, mix and mingle with co-workers, and get pumped up for our next On the Move Challenge! Flash will also be available to join in the games and cheer TEAM KENT STATE as we seek the top spot in the On the Move Challenge.
Kent State Dining Services and Recreational Services staff will also be on hand to share in the festivities and provide updates on what's new in dining and rec.
All full- and part-time faculty and staff are invited to come out to Rec and Play Day. As you visit various activity stations and information tables, get your card stamped and you can enter your completed card into our prize drawings. We’ll be planning for several prize giveaways.
Registration is requested for refreshment purposes. Click here to register. Make sure to wear comfortable attire.
All activities will take place in the lower level basketball courts. Check in upon your arrival to the Rec Center and pick up your prize drawing card. An information page for Rec & Play Day can be found here. You can also find a link to join the On the Move Challenge on that page.
For questions, contact Employee Wellness at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu. We can't wait to see you there!
Last Chance to Join TEAM KENT STATE and Get On the Move Challenge
Stretch. Warm up. Move. Cool down. Repeat.
Starting Monday, April 8 and running through June 30, Kent State University will again compete for the top spot in the On the Move Challenge.
Record your weekly BLAMS! Boost teammates, learn more about what motivates you, assess your progress, move yourself physically, and share your goals. Revel in the comradery and connections made with your Kent State colleagues. Find new ways to move your body where, when, how and as much as you want. You have nothing to lose but good health to gain. Join our team and let's move TEAM KENT STATE up that leaderboard together.
Wellness Your Way Points Eligible: Eligible employees may qualify to earn 60 (Tier 2) wellness reward points. Participants must have at least 65 percent of the total available points (6,461 points) by the end of the 12-week challenge to qualify.
To set skeptical minds at ease, you need not be a triathlete to feel and experience a tremendous amount of success in this competition, as physical activity is one component of this initiative. With your personal coach, Sean Foy, encouraging you all the way, all you need is a commitment to move a little bit more each week, engage in the weekly health topics, and be willing to "boost" your teammates.
For tracking your moves, you may use a wearable device, such as a Fitbit or Garmin, that can be easily linked to the Challenge or you can take advantage of the device-free option and manually enter any activity (e.g. swimming, walking, elliptical, house chores, move of the week, etc.) and let the calculator calculate your “move” points.
Registration is extremely easy and the best way to get started. Simply go to www.onthemovechallenge.welcoa.org by April 8, 2019 and enter company code KentStateThrives247 as you complete your profile.
This challenge is open to all full- and part-time Kent State University faculty and staff on all campuses.
For questions, please feel free to contact Employee Wellness at ext. 20392 or 27501. You may also email wellness@kent.edu.
Faculty/Staff Health and Wellness Resources Fair April 17 & 18
Get your blood pressure checked. Loosen up in a “warm-up and stretching clinic” or relax with a soothing chair massage. Have your feet screened by staff from our College of Podiatric Medicine or enjoy a recreational center tour. Get a complimentary hearing screen by our Speech and Hearing Clinic staff.
The Employee Wellness Office along with Recreational Services have joined together to host another Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Resources Fair at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center on April 17 and 18, 2019.
Make yourself and your health a priority! Stop by and see us at the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Resources Fair and don't forget to visit our informational tables during fair hours, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, and complete a fun information scavenger hunt that you can turn in for our random prize drawings!
Registration is not necessary to attend the open fair. However, there will be two lunch and learns offered on "Office Ergonomics" and "Healthy Hearing for Everyone." Registration is required and space is limited for the lunch and learns. See our informational page for details and registration.
For a complete schedule of activities on each day of the fair, visit the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Resources page here. For questions, you may contact the Employee Wellness Office at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu. See you at the fair!
Annual Steam Shutdown
In order to perform necessary maintenance on the boilers, steam transmission systems and electrical distribution systems, Kent State University's Power Plant will be shut down on the following dates:
Shutdown begins at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, May 12, 2019, until start-up completed at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, 2019. As a result of the steam shut down, most buildings located on campus will NOT have hot water to sinks and showers, etc., or heat or air conditioning.
Please address any questions about this project to Frank Renovich at 330-672-0775, or email frenovi2@kent.edu. Your assistance and understanding during this process is greatly appreciated.
The Chronicle's Great Colleges to Work For Survey Closes April 5
Kent State is definitely a great college to work for. It has great people, and the university constantly strives to provide a great work environment.
Regardless of whether or not we are recognized, your participation is important. The data we receive will be helpful to track our progress in responding to your insights and continue the process of creating the best workplace possible.
Part of the program involves an online employee survey conducted by ModernThink LLC, an independent research and consulting firm focused on workplace excellence. An email was sent to a sample of each participating institution's full-time faculty, administrators, exempt, and non-exempt staff asking for your input in the survey. If you received this e-mail invitation but haven’t responded, please take a few moments to complete the survey by Friday, April 5. You will be representing yourself and your colleagues, so please take the time to share your honest feedback.
Please contact Susan Perry, assistant provost for accreditation, assessment and learning, at sperry31@kent.edu or 330-672-3931 if you have any questions.
I-X Indoor Amusement Park
Running through April 22, this annual springtime event offers a full day of smiles, thrills and family fun, all at a budget-friendly price. Jam-packed with over 20 acres of rides, games, food and attractions all under one roof, I-X Indoor Amusement Park is one of the best entertainment values around that provides fun for the entire family.
Visit https://ixamusementpark.com/promocode/, click on “Corporation/Organization Discount and enter code: KENT19. Tickets are $21 per person ($4 off each ticket). Not comfortable purchasing tickets online? you can print and show this coupon at the box office and get the same $4 discount.
New Family-Friendly Admission Policy
After 5 p.m., everyone under the age of 18 is required to be accompanied by a parent or parental chaperone to enter the Amusement Park. Proof of ID required.
Discount Orchestra Tickets
The Akron Symphony Orchestra presents Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony on April 6 at 8 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
Experience the revolutionary spirit of what is considered the greatest symphony ever composed, along with Beethoven’s Mass in C, featuring the Akron Symphony Chorus. Kent State faculty and staff can receive a 10 percent discount on adult tickets by using the promo code KSU18 by visiting the Akron Symphony website. The discount is also available the night of the performance by showing your employee ID at the box office.
Dates to Remember:
April 2
10th Annual Mothers, Mentors and Muses
April 2-8
National Public Health Week
April 7
World Health Day
April 8
Student Employment Appreciation Week
April 8-14
National Student Employee Appreciation Week
April 21
Easter Sunday
April 22
Earth Day
April 24
Office Support Staff Recognition Luncheon (Administrative Professionals Day, invitation only)
April 27
Arbor Day